With Earth Day coming up next week and spring cleaning on many to-do lists, residents might be wondering what to do with unwanted items — and whether they can be recycled.
Many items can be recycled, even if they can’t be placed in a curbside recycling bin, according to DuPage County’s website.
As a reminder, curbside recycling in Hinsdale is limited to the following items: aluminum cans and clean foil; plastics (#1, #2, #3, #4, #5 and #7); glass bottles and jars; tin cans and empty aerosol cans; cardboard (cereal boxes, beverage cartons, corrugated); six- and 12-pack rings; and paper (newspaper, direct mail, bills, envelopes, magazines, catologs, telephone directories, office paper, brown paper bags).
Below are drop-off locations for a variety of items, most of which are listed in DuPage County’s recycling guide at http://www.dupagecounty.gov > Home > Government > Departments > Environment and Sustainability > Recycling. The website also includes information on recycling options for items not listed below.
• Books, school/office supplies, crayons
Donations of boxed books, office supplies and crayons can be taken to SCARCE, 800 S. Rohlwing Road, Addison. Hours are 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesdays to Fridays.
Visit http://www.scarce.org for details. To donate five or more boxes, call (630) 545-9710 to schedule a delivery.
• Clothing and textile recycling
DuPage County has partnered with eWorks and RewearAble to collect clothing and textiles for reuse and recycling at several sites. Acceptable items are clothing, shoes, sheets, bedding, towels and other household textiles in any condition (no heavily soiled items). Shoes must be matched and tied together. Items must be bagged.
The closest drop-off is the Burr Ridge Public Works Facility at 451 Commerce St. Hours are 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekdays.
• Electronics recycling
Computers, laptops, servers, monitors, televisions, printers, fax machines, scanners, VCR and DVD players, video game consoles, cell phones and other electronics and small household appliances can be recycled at several sites. Appliances with refrigerants or not listed will not be accepted.
Fees apply only for TVs and monitors: $25 for items up to 21 inches and $35 for items 21 inches and larger.
The closest drop-off is the Burr Ridge Public Works Facility at 451 Commerce St. Hours are 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekdays.
• Eyeglasses and hearing aids
Lions Clubs accept eyeglasses and hearing aids to offer the gift of sight or sound to those in need. Items may be dropped off at local clubs, including the ones 18 N. Cass Ave. in Westmont and 300 W. 22nd St. in Oak Brook, and at Walmart Vision Centers. Visit http://www.lionsclub.org and search “eyeglass donations” for more details.
• Hazardous waste
Illinois residents may drop off household items such as automotive fluids, batteries, fire extinguishers, fluorescent bulbs, propane tanks and more at the Regional Household Hazardous Waste Facility, 156 Fort Hill Drive, Naperville. This drive through, free drop-off facility is open from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays.
For more information, visit http://www.naperville.il.us > Services > Garbage and recycling > Household hazardous waste facility or call (630) 240-6095.
• Holiday lights
Any type of holiday string lights — working or not — along with electrical cords, can be dropped off year-round at SCARCE, 800 S. Rohlwing Road, Addison. Hours are 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesdays to Fridays. Visit http://www.scarce.org or call (630) 545-9710.
• Medications
Residents can drop off prescription and over-the-counter drugs through the Cook County Sheriff’s Office free Prescription Drug Take Back program using the collection box in the Hinsdale Police Department lobby, 121 Symonds Drive. Hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays. No needles or liquids allowed.
• Styrofoam
Western Springs offers a styrofoam recycling collection from 9 a.m. to noon the first Saturday of every month in the Recreation Center parking lot, 1500 Walker St. For more information, visit http://www.wsprings.com/faq.aspx?qid=188.
• U.S. flags
The Hinsdale American Legion Post 250 accepts used American flags and disposes of them properly. Flags can be dropped in the box in the circle drive near the Hinsdale Public Library, 20 E. Maple St.
— compiled by Pamela Lannom
